Precious metal trap



c. J. APABLASA PRECIOUS METAL TRAP June s, '1937.

Filed Sept. 19, 1934' Cayeano J/pab/lasa 30 thereof.

Patented June 8, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,083,485 PRECIOUS METAL TRAP Cayetano J. Apablasa, Los Angeles, Calif;

Application September 19, 1934, Serial No. 744,744

8 Claims.

'Ihis invention is a precious metal trap for use in association with dental cuspidors.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive precious metal recovery device, which may be constructed as an independent unit, and in such manner that it may be employed with a standard type dental cuspidor, so as to operate in conjunction therewith. A further object is toequip a device of the character mentioned with means for battling and straining those fluids of a character which are normally deposited into dental cuspidors, and to act upon such uicls in such manner as to separate the solids from the liquids, and to subsequently efl fect amalgamation of said solids with commercial mercury. A further object is to provide a precious metal trap formed of sections which may be readily assembled or separated, as occasion may require, so that the interior thereof is readily accessible for removal of its contents and for cleansing purposes, the device including means for normally maintaining the parts in assembled relation while-in use.

'Ihelinvention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Inthe accompanying drawing:

Fig@ 1 is a vertical elevation illustrating a precious metal trap unit constructed in accordance with` the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. Fig-.41s a longitudinal cross sectional View on the line 4--4- of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar cross sectional viewon the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, I denotes a casing,

preferably -of eylindrical'form, open at both ends and provided at its lower end with depending flanges II carrying radially disposed lugs I2. The last-mentioned lugs are so constructed and arranged as to engage bayonet slots I3, formed in thewallof a bottom member I4, so that said bot-'- tomi member may be removably connected with the lower end of said casing Iil. The bottom member I4- is provided with outlet openings I5, as shown, and extended diametrically across said member is a partition or bale I6, the upper edge of-vwhich is preferably of comb-like form, as indi'cated at I'I.

The=upper end of the casing I0 isclosed by a covervmember I8, provided with inlet openings 5019', andfhaving a peripheral flange 20, so posi- 5510i a .width to extend Vdiametrically across the interiordiameter of the casing I0, so as to divide said casing into two vertical chambers. The lower end of said partition 2 I ris provided with oset lugs 22, which are so disposed as to pass beneath studs 23,1.projecting inwardly from the wall of the 'casing IIJ; so as to normally lock said partition and cover from withdrawal while the device is in operation.

Mounted on the opposite faces of the partition member 2 I, in such manner as to be wholly supported` thereby, are two sets of bailles one of said sets being located in each of the chambers separated by the partition 2I. Each set of bales consists of a plurality of downwardly inclined sector shaped plates '23 and 244 arranged one above the other in staggered relation, and each baille having a free overiiowing edge disposed at approximately right angles to the contiguousl surface of the partition member 2I, so as to overlap in spaced relation at positions ina vertical plane parallel with the longitudinal median line'of saidv partition 2l. Each baflie is` attached to and eX- tends from a iiat surface of the partition 2| and is provided! with -a second free edge having a curvature complemental to that of casing I0, and rotatably and slidably engaging the inner surface of the latter While the parts are in operative position. The curved edges, while the bailles are in position, are helical in character. The free drip edges of the baiiles 24 are ofcomblike formation.

In practice, the bottom portion I4 provides a chamber for the storage of an amalgamating medium, such as commercial mercury, said amalgamating medium being separated into two pools by the partition It. When it is intended to use the'device, it is placedy within an ordinary type of dental cuspidor, in such manner that all fluids which are deposited into'the cuspidor are directed downwardly through the inlet openings I9. From there, the uids willv drop downwardly' over the successive baffles 23 and 24', the comb-like'edges 25 tending to screen and separate the solids from the" liquids, soy that asthey are washed down they'wlll be deposited in one or the other of the pools` ofmercury. It will be noted that' the partition=-l6- is normally disposed at right'angles to the plane ofthe partition 2|, so that the sets of baiil'es will direct the downwardly moving substances into the respective pools of mercury. Obviously, the solids will merely dropinto-th'e'mercuryand the fluids will remain on top thereof, theexcess fluid iiowingv outwardly Athrough Vthe openings I5 to the sewer main, or anylother'point of disposal. After the device has been in operas 5 sequent treatment rto removey the gold and other precious metals which n ormally iiow through a dental cuspidor, `The top I8, together with the partition 2| and the baffles carried thereby may also be removed for such cleansing as may be l necessary,and for. the removal of any particles of metal' which may be caught by the comb-likeA edges 25.` VThecomb-like edge I1 of the partition I6 also tends to entrapl metal particles which might otherwise tend to ow outwardly with l the liquids. v

'I'he advantages of the invention .will be read- Y ilyV understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention belongs. For. instance,.it will be 2V observed that a very simple form of precious may,` be assembled with any standard type of dental cuspidor. Aiurther advantage is that by reason of thebaiiling and straining action appliedl to the fluids as they flow downwardly 2,5, through the device, a maximum recovery of pren cious,V metalsl is' possible, because thereV iSUno op-` portunityior such metals to, escape fromthe device Vbefore they are brought into contact with the amalgamating medium. By constructing the device of sections -which are readily detachedrorv assembled, ,ready access to the amalgamated.

metal is provided, `and it is possible to effectually cleanse and sterilize. all of the parts of the trap.

Having thus explained thev natureV of the invention and described an operativemanner of.,

constructing and using the same, although-without attempting to set forth all of thefforms in whichit may bemade, or all of the formsof its use, What is claimed isz- 40; 1. n precious metal trap for dentalcuspidors comprisinga casing having a bottom portion con-AL f structed and arrangedyto provide an amalgamating chamber, said chamber havingone or more outlet openings, va partitionextending diametri- 4.5: callyacross said chamber between said openings,

anclo'sure fonthe upper end otsaid Acasing hav-- Y inguone ormore inlet openingsa partition ex-]` tended axially through said casingand .diametri-1l cally across the same, saidpartition beingnor-,gv 5i)mally,positioned at right angles to the partition in said amalgamating chamber, and a pluralityy of staggered inclined baiilesv, supportedby said axiallyrdisposed partition.

2.`A precious metal trap for dental jcuspidors,

55,1comprisinga tubular casing, a bottom member constructedandjarranged to provider 'a chamber for an amalgamating medium, said bottom meiri- 3 Y berhaving one or more outletv openings, a;parti `tion in 4said bottom member extending diametri- 60,1cal1y across` the same between said outlet kopen-` ings, the upperedge yof saidpartitionv beingvof comb-like lsform,` a-pin and slot connectionrlbe@u tween 4said casing and said bottom member, a;

closuremembervfor the upper end ofV said .cas- ;,ing` having inlet openings therein, a partition se;-

metal trap is provided, so constructed that itV 3. A precious metal trap for dental cuspldors comprising a casing, an amalgamating chamber engaging the lower end of thecasing and having a partition extended across the same in such manner as to divide the amalgamating chamber 5 into separate compartments, there being `separate outlets for the respective compartments, a removable partition plate located within said casing and disposed axially therein with its lower end Vadjacent to the top of said amalgamating 10 n chamber, said partition plate being at right angles to the partitionV in the amalgamating chamber.

bailles supported by opposite sides of said partition plate and so positioned as to direct owable material yintothe respective compartments of the l5 amalgamating chamber, and aclosure member removably engaging the top of the casingandy having inlet openings so positioned as to direct v inilowing material onto the baiiles located on both end and'depending vertically intol said casing` with its lower end normally positioned adiacenti to the top of said amalgamating chamber, sets` of baffles respectively carried by said partition plate and extending from the opposite 'surfaces 30 thereof, each set of baillesconsisting of a plu-l rality of downwardly inclined plates arranged.` one above the other in staggered relation, and each having an yoverilow edge l disposedat approximately right angles to the contiguoussur-'i face of said partition plate, so Vasto overlap in spaced relation at positionsein a vertical plane approximately parallel with the longitudinal;` median line of said partition plate,k the free edge of the lowermost baille of each setv b'eingposi- 4 9; tionedv` to discharge material into said amalgamating chamber, veach baille alsol having a free edge touching the inner surface of said casing,4 said `partition plate and said bailles being soconnected as to constitute a single unit insertable d into and removable from saidcasing, and means for directing iniiowing material onto thetopmost baiiles. '1 v i y v5.L A preciousmetal trap for dental cuspidorsj` comprising a casing, anamalgamating chambei-oo removably. engaging the lower end of said leasing` and having one or more outlets therein, apar-g tition vin said amalgamatingl chamber extended ,i diametrically across thechamber in such manner Y as to divide the same into separate compartmentslaflatpartition plate removably supported at itsf upper end and depending verticallyinto said-fcas-H.; ing with its lower end positioned adjacent to the@A top of thev partition in the amalgamating ber but at'right anglesthereto,sets of bailles regido spectively carried by and extending from' 'oprM'r-j'` site surfaces of the partition plate, veach set of baffles consisting 'of a plurality of downwardlyvxin-VV ,l clined plates arranged one above the otheruin;

staggered lrelatiomand eachhaving a free ,over-` 651 flow edge disposed at approximately vrightangles" to the contiguous surface of the partition Aplate;` so as to overlap in spaced relation at positions in a verticall plane approximately parallel with the longitudinal median line lof said.partitionEplate,` 'imi Awith the lowermost baille of each set being posi` tioned to dischargematerial into a compartment of the amalgamating chamber, each*baille'beingt` y provided` with a secondfreeedge touchingjthe.`

inner ,surfacegofisaid casingmhile thesparts. cream in operative position, said bailies and said partition plate being so connected as to provide a single unit insertable into and removable from said casing, and means for directing inflowing material onto the topmost bailie of each set.

6. A precious metal trap for dental cuspidors comprising a casing, an amalgamating chamber removably engaging the lower end of the casing and having one or more outlets therein, a closure member engaging the top of the casingl and having one or more inlet openings so as to direct inflowing material into the casing, a partition plate secured at its upper end to said closure member and depending vertically into said casing with its lower end normally positioned adjacent to the top of the amalgamating chamber, sets of bafiies respectively carried by and extending from the opposite surfaces of said partition plate, each set of baffles consisting of a plurality of downwardly inclined plates arranged one above the other in staggered relation and each having a free overiiow edge disposed at approximately right angles to the contiguous surface of the partition plate, so as to overlap in spaced relation at positions in a vertical plane approximately parallel with the longitudinal median line of said partition plate, each baffle also having a free edge touching the inner surface of said casing while the baflles are in position Within the casing, the uppermost baifles being positioned beneath the openings in said closure and the lowermost bafes being positioned to discharge material into said amalgamating chamber, said closure, said partition plate and said bailles being so connected as to provide a single unitary structure.

7. A precious metal trap for dental cuspidors comprising a casing, an amalgamating chamber removably engaging the lower end of the casing and having one or more outlets therein, a removable partition plate suspended from its upper end and depending vertically into said casing with its lower end normally positioned adjacent to the top of the amalgamating chamber, sector-like baflles extending from the opposite surfaces of said partition plate, said baffles being downwardly inclined and arranged one above the other in staggered relation, and each having a free overow edge dispose-d at approximately right angles to the contiguous surface of said partition plate and in overlapping spaced relation, the curved edges of the sectors touching the inner surface of said casing, the lower bales being positioned to discharge material into said amalgamating chamber, and means for directing infiowing mateial onto the topmost baies.

8. A precious metal trap for dental cuspidors comprising a casing, an amalgamating chamber removably engaging the lower end of the casing and having one or more outlets therein, a removable partition plate suspended from its upper end and depending vertically into said casing with its lower end normally positioned adjacent to the top of the amalgamating chamber, sector-like baiiles extending from the opposite surfaces of said partition plate, said bailies being downwardly inclined and arranged one above the other in staggered relation, and each having a free overflow edge disposed at approximately right angles to the contiguous surface of said partition plate and in overlapping spaced relation, the curved edges of the sector following approximately helical'lines and touching the inner surface of said casing, the lower bafes being positioned to discharge material into sai-d amalgamating chamber, and a cover for said casing having openings therein located immediately above the topmost baiiles.

CAYETANO J. APABLASA. 

